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Canadian Forces Assist Evacuation in Northern Ontario

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - April 26, 2008) - The Government of Canada is deploying Canadian Forces (CF) aircraft to northern Ontario to assist provincial authorities with the evacuation of residents in Kashechewan, Fort Albany, and possibly other locations along the James Bay and Hudson Bay coastline where water levels are rising rapidly.

Helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft will be used to assist Emergency Management Ontario, the Ministry of Natural Resources, and local officials who began evacuations along the Albany River yesterday.

"The Government's first priority is the safety and security of Canadians. On any given day, thousands of Forces' personnel stand ready to help fellow Canadians in times of need," said the Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

"Canada Command was created just over two years ago to ensure a clear focus on Canada and continental North America in terms of Canadian Forces domestic operations," said Lt.-Gen Marc Dumais, Commander, Canada Command. "My command's six regional task forces continuously monitor developments in all parts of Canada and remain in close contact with other government authorities."